The partially constructed pandal at the Netaji Subhash ground in Sealdah
The club, which has been organising the puja at the venue since 1948, had moved court after authorities locked the premises last month and deployed RPF personnel to stop work. “We have been organising the puja at this ground since 1948. Because of the permission dispute, the club had planned a London Bridge-themed pandal, but much of the preparation time has been lost.
The organisers had earlier said they had applied for permission in June but a dispute over the use of the ground delayed the process. The claim of the other party to hold the puja at the same ground was rejected,” said Srijit Saha, secretary of the puja committee. When the authorities locked the place and barred us from holding the festival, we were left with no alternative but to approach the court,” said Saha.
Kolkata: Calcutta High Court has allowed Sealdah Railway Athletic Club to hold its annual Durga Puja at Railway Quarter Netaji Subhas Ground near Sealdah station, bringing an end to a dispute that had stalled preparations for the festival. Club officials produced several documents in court, including permission orders from railways and receipts relating to govt grants to Sealdah Athletic Club. “The Calcutta High Court has directed the authorities to allow Sealdah Athletic Club to organise Durga Puja at the ground. The court order has brought relief to the organisers, but they now face a race against time, with barely two weeks left before Durga Puja.
The court on Tuesday allowed the club to organise the puja at the ground and rejected the claim of another party seeking to hold the festival at the same venue.